# FPGA-Enhanced Hardware to Capture CRT Aura with “Custom, Purpose-Built Upscaler”
Fans of retro gaming have been on the lookout for ways to relish classic games with the same visual quality they recall from the era of cathode-ray tube (CRT) televisions. Analogue, a notable name in premium retro gaming hardware, is advancing this mission with the imminent launch of the **Analogue 3D**, an FPGA-powered console crafted to emulate the **Nintendo 64 (N64)**. The device is set to provide a genuine gaming experience, featuring a “custom, purpose-built 4K upscaler” aimed at reproducing the unique glow and warmth of CRT screens.
## A Year in Development: The Analogue 3D
The **Analogue 3D** was initially unveiled a year ago, and since then, excitement has surged for this FPGA-based N64 console. Priced at **$250**, the Analogue 3D is now anticipated to ship in the first quarter of **2025**, a slight delay from its original launch window of 2024.
This device continues the legacy of Analogue’s earlier products, including the **Analogue Pocket** and **Analogue Nt**, each lauded for their high-quality emulation of classic systems like the **Game Boy** and **NES**. However, the Analogue 3D elevates the effort by tackling the notoriously tough-to-emulate N64, a console recognized for its distinctive rendering techniques and dependence on CRT conditions to display graphics accurately.
## FPGA Technology: The Secret to Precise Emulation
Central to the Analogue 3D is an **FPGA**, a hardware type that can be programmed to mimic the logic gates of the original N64 setup. This methodology presents a major advantage over conventional software emulation, which frequently contends with issues like input lag and graphical discrepancies. By employing an FPGA, Analogue can guarantee **100% compatibility** with the complete N64 cartridge library across all markets, ensuring a more authentic gaming affair.
The FPGA in the Analogue 3D is an **Altera Cyclone** model, featuring **220,000 logic elements**—a notable upgrade from the **49,000 logic elements** available in the Analogue Pocket. This enhancement in processing capability is crucial for accurately duplicating the intricate design of the N64, which was revolutionary in its time due to its use of 3D polygons and textures.
However, unlike the Analogue Pocket, which included a secondary FPGA to facilitate **openFPGA cores** for games from other classic systems, the Analogue 3D will not provide this option. As per Analogue founder **Christopher Taber**, incorporating a second FPGA would have raised the device’s price, countering the company’s aim of keeping costs affordable.
## Capturing the CRT Aura: A Custom 4K Upscaler
One of the most thrilling attributes of the Analogue 3D is its capability to recreate the **”CRT aura”** that was vital to the N64’s visual aesthetic. Contemporary high-definition displays often struggle to embody the warmth and softness of CRTs, resulting in blocky, pixelated images that fall short of doing justice to the original titles. This is particularly challenging for the N64, which depended on the distinct qualities of CRTs to effectively render its polygons and textures.
To tackle this challenge, Analogue has engineered a **custom, purpose-built 4K upscaler** that transcends conventional **CRT shaders** meant for 2D games. This upscaler is crafted to replicate the “soft glow of phosphor” and the “vibrant color intersections” typical of CRT displays. According to Analogue, this innovation will yield “virtually indistinguishable representations of CRT displays” that capture the warmth, depth, and texture of every image.
Regrettably, Analogue has not yet provided any visuals or videos demonstrating this new upscaling technology, leaving us to rely solely on the company’s statements for now. Nevertheless, given Analogue’s reputation with prior releases, there is cause for hope that the Analogue 3D will meet its expectations.
## The Revamped 3DOS Operating System
Beyond its hardware capabilities, the Analogue 3D will feature an updated edition of Analogue’s **3DOS** operating system, which will incorporate several **N64-specific enhancements**. While specific details are yet to be revealed, it’s probable that these features will improve the user experience in more ways than just basic game emulation.
## A New Controller for a New Age
In conjunction with the launch of the Analogue 3D, controller maker **8Bitdo** is debuting a new **”
